– a limited series about unconventional economics –

You love the act of creation.

You just want to write, dance, sing, take photos, throw pots, play your instrument, make jewelry, play with textiles, act, draw, do standup, design…

But like everyone, you need to make a living.

This economic reality weighs on you like a heavy cape.

Because the world has been telling you for years that you CANNOT make a living doing what you love.

So you believe that:

• business is hard
• sales is icky
• marketing involves self-promotion –  which sounds absolutely horrible.

There’s even a phrase for it: starving artist.

Now, we don’t say, “starving minister” or “starving employee of a fast-food restaurant” – in fact, put in any other context, the phrase seems insulting. Which it is. Please join me in never using it again, won’t you?

Here’s the real problem: for all that you have studied your craft, no one ever taught you anything practical about how to actually create an economically sustainable life for yourself.

In this blog series, I’ll show you some simple steps you can take to reclaim your right to make a living doing what you love, starting with easy action steps like the one below.

EASY ACTION STEP:

Today, make some 5-Minute Art about money, art and feeling discouraged.

How to Make 5-Minute Art:

Grab some scrap paper and a pen and scrawl out some stick figures that express how the whole “make a living from art” thing feels to you. Just make the shape of the feeling, or the color. Or, if you prefer, create a little song or dance or poem about it. Have fun. Work fast. Be brief.

No one ever has to see your 5-Minute Art, although if you want to share it with me on our Facebook page, I would absolutely LOVE that. https://www.facebook.com/TheRealSamBennett/

NOTE:

You might be nodding to yourself here, thinking, oh, yeah – I should try that sometime.

Let me encourage you to to try it right now. This moment.

I have been training creatives to be more prosperous for over 10 years now, and the testimonials for this exercise alone are mind-blowing…

“I just realized I’m not that scared after all…”

“I can see that money is trying to be my friend and I keep pushing it away…”

“WOW – these are some very old stories that I am completely finished with as of now!”

See – transformation can be both easy and fun : )

Yours,

“Loved the reminders & the ease you demonstrated…just thinking now that a little self promotion practice might be in order among us/ we highly sensitive creatives who hold visions, accomplish goals, then move along forgetting our accomplishment or minimizing the body of completed work. Thank u Samantha Bennett.” – L.G., current member of Sam’s Pro Club

—a limited series about unconventional economics—

Whatever the next step is for you in bringing your work to the world, I want you to do two things:

1. Quit thinking you can’t do it.
2. Quit thinking you can do it alone.

When I started The Organized Artist Company ten years ago, I knew nothing about business. I didn’t know bupkis about marketing, sales, managing a team, email, invoicing, terms & conditions, guarantees, systems or economics.

I only knew that I wanted to help people & I needed to make a living.

So I immediately surrounded myself with people who were smarter than I was. Supportive, clever, fun people. I made so many new friends those first few years, and most of them are still in my life today. (It’s still surprising to me, who was “the weird lonely kid” growing up, how many friends I have been blessed with as an adult….)

If you are not currently friendly with at least ONE person who:

• Understands what you’re trying to do with your life
• Respects and adores you
• Will celebrate your wins with you
• Will console you when things look bleak
• Offers genuinely helpful advice

Then you need to find that person, asap.

HINT: Me. I can be that person for you. F’reals.

SECOND HINT: Check out tomorrow’s video for you to find out how you can get access to me and a whole community of creative geniuses who can’t wait to cheer you on.

Yours,

“What I wish someone had said to me before I joined: You will be surprisingly more productive when you join Sam’s Pro Club. The stakes are higher and so are the rewards. Get in the game!”  – Judy Gitenstein, current member of Sam’s Pro Club

— a limited series about unconventional economics —

You don’t feel ready to quit your day job.

You don’t feel ready to put yourself out there.

You don’t feel ready to call yourself an entrepreneur.

You don’t feel ready to go to conferences.

You don’t feel ready to have a website.

You don’t feel ready to figure out social media.

You don’t feel ready to even take one tiny step toward the life you dream of.

Oh – wait.

What was that last one?

About feeling ready to take one tiny step?

OK.

Maybe *that* you could do.

EASY ACTION STEP:

Make a list of 5 tiny steps you could do right now.

• Maybe you could reach out to one person you adore who might have some good advice for you.
• Maybe you could spend 15 minutes a day working on your ideas.
• Maybe you could do a Google search for your dream gig, and check out the websites of others who are doing it.
• Maybe you could…(fill in the blank)

Yours,

“Sam, you teach live-time and with authenticity that is rare. What do I wish someone had told me about joining Sam’s Pro Club? That you will get off to a quick start because everyone’s time involved is valuable. You will get your investment back in income and/or education. You will learn things that you haven’t even imagined yet. You will become a better, faster decision-maker. You won’t be alone in your craft, art, goals, big ideas, and wins. You will learn how to fail forward fabulously. You will be surrounded by beautiful, generous, talented folks. And you will get all of this because you first said yes to yourself and a wonderful opportunity.” – Angie McIntyre, recent alumni of Sam’s Pro Club

— a limited series about unconventional economics —

“I chicken out when it comes to stating my price.”

“I tried to raise my prices, but then people say they can’t afford it.”

“I know my work is worth a bundle – but really – no one would pay me that much.”

Luckily, these common misconceptions are easy (and fun!) to fix.

EASY ACTION STEP:

“I chicken out when it comes to stating my price.”

This is not an economic issue.

This is a courage issue.

Pretend that you charge ten times more than you currently do, and say that number out loud ten times in a row. So if you’ve been charging $100, you might say, “I charge $1000….How much do I charge? Oh, it’s just $1000…..If you want what I do, it’s $1000….I only charge $1000….I get $1000 for what I do….” etc. Do this 10 times a day for 10 days in a row and see how your mindset, your beliefs and your actions begin to shift.

“I tried to raise my prices, but then people say they can’t afford it.”

This is not a sign that your prices are too high. In fact, it’s probably a sign that your prices are too low, because your people are not understanding the VALUE of what you do.

Think of a customer story (real or imagined) that conveys the true value of what you do. Think of the deeper, ongoing results people get from your work.

(Obviously, if it’s an imagined story, you don’t want to present it as real, but you can say, “My work affects everyone differently, but my hope is that people get results like X, Y and Z….”)

For example, “I gave this client a series of 10 massages, and she told me she was feeling so calm and centered that she and her teenage daughter were actually having real conversations again! Imagine how much it’s worth to her to heal that relationship…”

Or, “This client bought some of my art to display in her office, and not only does she feel inspired every time she looks at it, her new assistant said she knew the job was right for her when she saw that piece. Imagine how much it’s worth to have the perfect assistant…”

“I know my work is worth a bundle – but no one will pay me that much.”

Usually when people say that to me, what they are really saying is, “I wouldn’t pay me that much.” Which is true.

You wouldn’t pay that much for what you do, because you don’t have your customer’s problem.

You, my dear, are not your ideal client.

I also hear this is when people have been trying to market to their friends and family.

Your friends and family are not your ideal clients, either.

Spend 5 minutes dreaming up a mental picture of your ideal client. Imagine how old they are, the house they live in, the clothes they like, the tv shows they watch. Imagine how much money they have already spent trying to solve the problem that you can fix for them. Imagine that they are looking for you right now.

Use that daydream to inspire one action you could take to find that person in real life.

Try one of these and let me know how it goes, OK?

Yours,

P.S. This post is part of a limited series exploring the world of business for artists, healers, writers, coaches, creatives, and anyone who thinks they can’t make money doing what they love.

P.P.S. Here’s what I know for sure: taking baby steps like this is the way to grow into your prosperous, sustainable life. Even just 15 minutes a day can take you there. But you’re going to need a supportive community, some solid training in entrepreneurial concepts and some good advice (both practical and spiritual) from someone who’s done it already.

And that’s what Sam’s Pro Club is all about – and you can get started for just $12.32/day (annual subscription).  Check it out here – S.

“I told [this famous publisher] about my book idea and your suggestion to use the prompts in an email series. In the middle of describing this, he interrupted to say he wants to publish THAT book. I almost fell off my chair. I’m both over the moon and hyperventilating. And sooooooo motivated! Just had to share the news and share my gratitude. In large part, thanks to you and all I’ve learned from you, I know I can make all of this – and more – happen.” – B.J., recent alumni of Sam’s Pro Club